Classic & Vintage - Palo Alto bike frame and parts

After sitting in the attic all these years, I decided to bring it down as a project for my 10 year old and I to put together when I realized it didn't have rims, sprocket, and many other parts. The Bike actually came from my mother-in-law who brought it home after her brother passed. Enough history.
I don't know what it's worth (if any) and would like to know from the experts. The frame is in great condition, at least a 9 out of 10 for rating. It's red with green/yellow labeling. It has one pedal crank, both pedals, and several other parts. If anybody can help or is interested in buying it, please feel free to contact me.

Thanks,

Chuck

Hard to tell anything about the bike without pics. if you can, you shpuld post some pics so people can get an idea of what you have.

Also, there is a thread (or two) about Palo Alto bikes here, you can find them through the search function. From the sound of it, the fact that it's missing a few things shouldn't be any deterrent at all for you and your son. to build a project together.

If Bigbossman posts a pic of his Palo Alto build, you'll see why you might want to build it up rather than sell it.

If Bigbossman posts a pic of his Palo Alto build, you'll see why you might want to build it up rather than sell it.

Naw..... I've spammed you guys enough with pictures of that thing. >toe in sand<

I'd love to see pics of the frameset, though. Chuck, any chance you're in the SF Bay Area?

Bigbossman,

I had no idea after all these years what kind of bike was in the attic. The irony of all this is I have three boys, 8,10, and 13. My middle boy is grounded to his room for a week (he's a huge project type kid, task oriented) and I thought this would be a great time to assemble it together until he gains privileges to access the garage to apply the needed grease. Well, he and my youngest broke our digital camera and my oldest broke the camcorder which also takes still photos. So I will need to ask a neighbor to get the pics posted. And by the way, if this worth something (not in terms of money, I don't need it), it needs to go to someone who can appreciate it, not end up like the cameras or other belongings...for boys will be boys and that will be it's destiny.

Chuck

By the way, I'm in Vancouver Wa.

Naw..... I've spammed you guys enough with pictures of that thing. >toe in sand<What, this old thing? (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=297374&highlight=alto+palo)

:D

Anther link to a thread about Palo Alto bikes (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=192657).

If you use the search the forums function at the top of this page, using the search term Palo Alto, and limit your search to the Classic & Vintage forum, you'll come up with other relevant threads.

:thumb:

That's georgeous! I'd be proud of that one. There is no way ours would be that beautiful, or remain that nice. Plus, no here is as interested in cycles like these as you all are.
I must hit the hay but I'll try to get some photos for everyone asap.

Thanks for all the reply's

Chuck

The earliest Palo Alto frames were, I believe, made by Tom Ritchey, If it were one of those I'd think it'd be quite valuable. After that they were made in Italy. They were always well thought of for the price, probably better made than the traditional production frame.

I would love to own a palo alto... is that what you mean by worth? My LBS has a silver and green one that I covet.

The early frames were ritchey-made.

...... And by the way, if this worth something (not in terms of money, I don't need it), it needs to go to someone who can appreciate it, not end up like the cameras or other belongings...for boys will be boys and that will be it's destiny.


Monetary worth: Hard to say without detailed pics. In general a complete, all original, pristine example would be worth quite a few bucks. Just a frame set in good condition would probably fetch between $100-$250, depending on condition, size, additional parts, etc.

Appreciative worth: The Palo Alto frame-set I built up is a very satisfying bike to ride. Of the four bikes I own, it is my favorite (but the Cinelli has not been completed, yet). It has fairly aggressive geometry, but is a nice all-day rider. Sort of like being on the back of a dragonfly, it flits down the road, is a rocket coming out of the corners, and is a stable and comfortable cruiser on the flats.

The downside to these bikes is that, at least on my example, the paint is on the fragile side. One has to be very mindful about handling it, leaning it, racking it, etc. The paint chips very easily. Probably not suitable for boys, unless you don't mind it getting banged up.

Again.... I'd like to see it. Do you happen to know what size it is?

Flip the bike on its' back, and look at the bottom bracket shell. Tell us what it says. There should be a single number stamped on the drive side, a "Made in Italy" rectangle in the center, and a very stylized "BMZ" on the non-drive side.

Like this:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/BMZ/BB_1.jpg

Hi Chuck,

I'm in Portland and if you decide you want to pass it on I'd love to take a look at it. If you think someone there would appreciate it, though, I suggest working on it with your son and keeping it. I doubt there could be a much more rewarding week of being grounded. :)

Cheers,
Karl

Yep, I'm also in Portland and threw my hat in the ring and PMed you too. :)

Looks like he'll have no trouble finding a buyer. :lol:

Ok all I have a few pics to upload, I'll just need a few minutesto figure out how to do it on this site.

Chuck

Hopefully, these pics help determine what you all wanted to know about the bike. If not, let me know what specifically needs to be shot. On the underside, it's has the number 55 stamped on it and (BMZ ?) or something close to that. It's been stored in the original bubble wrap packaging and box

I can't see the pics can anyone assist me how to upload them?

Chuck

You click on "Manage Attachments" in the "Attach Files" box below the text entry box. When the window comes up you hit "Browse" and find the file. Then you also have to click the "Upload" button next to the box as well. Once you've done that for the files you want, you can close the box. My guess is you got everything but that last step, pressing "Upload".

Cheers,
Karl

You can either attach them when you make a post, or if you have them hosted somewhere (e.g., photobucket), you can use html code to upload them directly into your post.

i.e., like this: with a pic address inserted here.

This doesn't seem like the right bike for a 10 year old, at least not the ones I've known. As you pointed out, based on the cameras, probably not yours either. Most 10 year olds want mountain bikes, don't have any friends who ride road bikes, and if they ride a road bike at all, will abuse it, more out of ignorance or just being a kid than anything else. A bike like this isn't meant to hop curbs, throw onto bike racks or drop on a friend's sidewalk when you show up to play with Lego. If you think one of your sons might eventually enjoy the bike, I'd just hold onto it for a few more years. Heaven knows they go by quickly. And you do live in a beautiful part of the country for riding. Otherwise, I'd try to place it with someone who will care for it and appreciate it. As you've already seen, those people aren't difficult to find.

Hi Karl

Actually, I clicked "manage attachments" many times but nothing happened. So I attempted to drag them into this box I'm writing in now which asked about "Active X" and I continued to attach them that way. My son is on the computer doing homework, so I'll try it again when he's done.

Thanks,

Chuck

Can I just email them to someone who is able to post them? Manage Attachments is not showing a browse when I click it.

Chuck

I will PM you my email address. Check your "Private Messages" at the upper right hand corner of the page, below where it says "Welcome, cvelkins01."

Hopefully, these pics help determine what you all wanted to know about the bike. If not, let me know what specifically needs to be shot. On the underside, it's has the number 55 stamped on it and (BMZ ?) or something close to that. It's been stored in the original bubble wrap packaging and box


Sounds like a 55cm BMZ made frame to me.

"Sounds like a 55cm BMZ made frame to me"

Bigbossman,

Can you translate that statement to me? 55cm I think goes without saying but does it convey anything else I may not be aware of?

Here are the pics Chuck emailed to me for upload (I had to upload them to Flickr because the files were too large to attach):

Palo Alto Bike (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17889610@N00/2545372757/)
Palo Alto Head Tube (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17889610@N00/2545373023/)
Palo Alto Down Tube (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17889610@N00/2546199190/)
Palo Alto Seat Tube (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17889610@N00/2545373741/)
Palo Alto Seat Cluster (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17889610@N00/2546199866/)
Palo Alto Rear (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17889610@N00/2545374463/)

By the way, Palo Alto is Spanish for "Tall Stick." The city was named after a tall tree, El Palo Alto (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Palo_Alto), that was the site of the Portola expedition when it camped in the area, at the time of the Spanish exploration of Alta California (Upper California).

That tree is depicted on the head tube.

"Sounds like a 55cm BMZ made frame to me"

Bigbossman,

Can you translate that statement to me? 55cm I think goes without saying but does it convey anything else I may not be aware of?

Sure - BMZ (BIEMMEZETA?) is/was an Italian contract frame builder, and supplied the frames to Palo Alto Cycles in Palo Alto CA. It was their "house brand", and IIRC they offered two styles - a racing bike and a sport tourer. Link to catalog (http://www.box.net/shared/e3p640od07) - see page 24.

It is made from Columbus double-butted SL tubing, and cost ~$340 brand new (just frame and fork).

It is not a "top tier" bike frame and does not have the panache of a Colnago, Pinarello, or De Rosa, but it is not a POS either - far from it. They were well-respected bikes in their day, still have a (local?) following, and you don't see too many around. They are a snappy ride, and are beautiful to look at. The paint is a bit fragile as I mentioned earlier, and the lug work is very plain-jane..... but still, I always draw comments and admiring glances when I wheel mine out into the sun. Always.

And now you know as much as I do, which isn't much. And now I know what mine would look like if it had decals. :)

If yours was blue, I would have already thrown money at you. :D

While they are both the same color, yours and mine have a few subtle differences - yours has rear rack braze-ons, over the top BB cable routing, painted lug cut-outs, only a single bottle mount (late 70's?)and a different fork crown, for example:

Yours:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/2545372757_1902520338_b.jpg

Mine:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/Misc%20ride%20pics/PaloAlto-1-1.jpg

Given that description, with the lack of eyelets up front, this would appear to be the racing frameset.

Given that description, with the lack of eyelets up front, this would appear to be the racing frameset.

Yeah - despite the fact that it has rear eyelets, it has shifter bosses as well. The catalog says the touring model did not, in order to allow for "handlebar shifters".

shoot, that frame is in beaut-i-ful condition and somebody (over 10 years old) would be proud to own it. I would not sneeze nor sneer at this example of B_M_Z (correct, that's Bi_ Emme_Zeta in Italian) craftsmanship: remember they probably built some of the Ciocc frames and who knows how many others that'll never be credited to them. Palo Alto did their homework when they had these made.

Yep, I'm also in Portland and threw my hat in the ring and PMed you too. :)

Looks like he'll have no trouble finding a buyer. :lol:

Just curious - did any of us end up with this frame, or was this just a clever "what's it worth, I wanna sell it for as much as possible" thread?

I'm sorry all for not staying with the program here, I've been extremely busy with business projects and just haven't had the time. I still have the bike, no one's offered the million dollar door prize as of yet. Also, we've been considering whether or not to store it in case one of my boys ends up a peddler. Divination hasn't been my strong point, so we just need some time to consider it. Thanks for everyones help.

cv